The Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department’s main purpose is to provide initial assessment and treatment for all major medical and surgical emergencies, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Many acute minor emergencies are also received and treated. This treatment is provided in one triage, six major and thirteen minor treatment cubicles/bays. A total of 44,140 patients were assessed with 8212 referred directly to their local health centres by our triage nurse.  34,319 patients were treated in A & E and 7606 of these were admitted to the various wards, theatres and intensive care unit, representing a 1.4% increase over 2001 in overall volume and a 8.6% increase in admissions.